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Jan 22, 2024

Above, students Kloe Bingham, left, and Alexis McGahen hold up letters announcing their success, passing the state licensure test for cosmetology. The two are students within Corry Area School District's Career and Technical Center program, which allowed them to gain the experience needed to pass the test and enter the cosmetology field upon graduation.

Corry students Kloe Bingham and Alexis McGahen are a cut above the rest when it comes to cosmetology. The two high school seniors recently passed their cosmetology state board exams on May 30.

Bingham and McGahen are both part of Corry Area School District's Career and Technical Center (CTC), where they completed 1,250 hours in preparation for the exam -- a feat made harder due to the pandemic shutdown.

Throughout their three years in the program, the students learned to shampoo, manicure, pedicure, cut and color hair, do facials and makeup, wax, perm, style, do hair extensions and more. They also learned theory, including skin and nail disorders and diseases, chemistry, anatomy, hair structure and product knowledge.

Students also learn the safety, sanitation and sterilization guidelines that are industry standards, so they know the best practices and expectations heading into the field.

The CTC's cosmetology area includes typical stations one might see at a salon or spa, including styling chairs, sinks, styling stations, mannequins to practice on, tables and equipment to do nails and any products needed.

Tiffany Lindsey, an instructor of the cosmetology program at the CTC, said this was the first year the school has opted to do early testing.

Students have to complete 1,250 hours to take the exam, but only need 800 hours for early testing. Lindsey said that once students have completed their hours, she sits down with them individually to complete the application for the exam.

The school pays for the students’ background checks and state tests. Lindsey said oftentimes, students get their applications and don't follow through, but she thinks the early testing was a good push.

Bingham and McGahen gained confidence with early testing and scheduled their state exams, traveling to the Pearson VUE testing center in Erie to complete the exam.

Now, Lindsey will submit verification of the completion of the girls’ house and the final transcripts, and the state will send the licenses in the mail.

Bingham is planning to move to Delaware, where she is originally from, and wants to find a salon in Philadelphia to work at for two years before she's eligible to transfer her license to Delaware.

McGahen is planning to work in Erie, building local clientele. She has not decided where she will go yet.

Both girls can decide if they want to specialize in something specific or go into a salon and do a little bit of everything.

Different fields within cosmetology include but aren't limited to salon owner, cosmetology teacher, manicurist/pedicurist, skin care specialist, wig maker, spa and therapy owner, runway model stylist, specialist in micro-dermabrasion, television makeup or hair stylist or texture technician.

Lindsey remarked that she now has a waiting list for the CTC's cosmetology program. The 2023-24 year will see 11 seniors, six juniors and 12 sophomores.

She hopes to continue utilizing the early testing and get everyone certified and into local salons.

"I think that if we keep doing early testing, our success rate for the program will be higher, and we will see more of the Corry CTC students going into salons around the area."

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